Automatic displaying-machine.



R. H. HADFIELD. AUTOMATIC DISPLAYING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. .22, 1908. 4 'SHBETSSHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905.

R. H. HADFIELD. AUTOMATIC DISPLAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905. 907,689. Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

4 SHEETSTSHEET 2.

w z X a w fi// o g i M: [w h a a. f j .II. I y :i i E it a f fi 5%, T Q 0 m FFF IZ l m a W //zv Am P0 1 1/1 Z. w 1C i R. H. HADFIELD.

AUTOMATIG DISPLAYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2a, 1905.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

v 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

| ii 1 I 0 ii 1) 03 Q3 I l; v a i I: in j fil r wv essesv/ y R. H. HADFIELD. AUTOMATIC DISPLAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905, Patel filed Dec 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. z? \A/LLIQE'EEEE UNITED @TATES PATENT OFFIELQFL.

RAY HARRISON HADFIELD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BULLETIN COMPANY OF AMERICA, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC DISPLAYING-BEACHINE.

No. comes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26, 1905.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Serial No. 266,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY I-IARRIsoN HAD- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Displaying-Machines; and I hereby declare the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a machine adapted to automatically display views for amusement, educational or advertising purposes.

The object of the invention is to afford a machine of the class described in which transparent or partly transparent view plates or slides each having a representation thereon which it is desired to display are supported in series and are automatically brought suc cessively into position to be displayed by means of suitable illuminating means positioned behind the same.

A further object of the invention is to afford means whereby the light may be shut off when the View plates are not in position to be seen and it is also a further object of the invention to afford automatic means for simultaneously elevating the view plate and opening a shutter.

i is.

tion.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a machine embodying my invention showing the same with the plate elevated to view position and the doors or shutters of the shadow box open. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same partly in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4, 4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5, 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the shutters in the shadow box closed and the view plate carrier at its lowest posi- Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the view plate carriages. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the guide extensions whereby the plate is lifted from the carriage. Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the mechanism for opening the shutters or doors of the shadow box, showing the adjustment when the shutters are open. Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the adjustment when the shutters are closed. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vie. Y illustrating a detail of construction.

As shown in the drawings: A indicates a cabinet having a top, a bottom and side and rear walls and a front wall having an aperture near its upper end. Secured on the inner side of said front wall near the top thereof and covering said aperture is a shadow box B constructed of metal or any suitable material, and which com rises as shown, bottom, top and side walls b ackened on their inner sides as usual and which converge toward the open rear of the box.

Within the cabinet and affording a support for the mechanism therein is a rigid frame comprising as shown angle bar or other suitable posts 0' 0 arranged at the front and rear of the cabinet on each side thereof with the front posts 0 in close relation with the front wall of the cabinet. Said posts are secured together transversely at the top, the bottom and near the middle by means of angle bars 0 c and c and rigidly secured on the central bar (2 and the up per transverse sides bars 0 are vertical ways supported one on each side of the shadow box and near the open rear side of the same. Supported on the rear posts 0 on inwardly directed brackets (Z are parallel vertical guides D and D of which the upper end d of the inner guide D inclines forwardly and obliquely upwardly approximately to a point co-incident with the top of tee shadow box. The lower end (Z of said guide also inclines upwardly and forwardly and secured thereon is an inclined plate cl which extends transversely of the cabinet at the rear of said shadow box as shown in views 1, 3 and 4. The upper end (Z of the outer guide D also inclines forwardly and upwardly approximately parallel with the end (Z of the inner guide member and the lower end thereof (1 inclines downwardly and forwardly to a point between the ways C and is upturned at its extremity to afford a stop as shown in Fig. 3. Supported on the lower inclined ends (Z of the guide is a plurality of transparent or partly transparent view lates D any desired number of which may e used and each of which is provided at its shaft f, parallel with the shaft f top with laterally directed cylindric arms (1 upon which the plate is supported between and upon the guides.

Slidable on each of said ways C is a car riage E, com rising as shown a plate having a longitudina groove therein adapted to receive the way therein and which is closely confined thereto by means of an outer plate 6 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. The inner plate is provided with a horizontal inwardly directed arm e on the rear side of which is provided lugs e as shown in Fig. 7, between which is yieldingly su orted a rearwardly directed, spring contro ll ed finger a adapted to engage beneath the projecting arm at of the front view in the series and to lift the same into position for exposure. As shown a spring a is engaged at the lower edge of each of said arms 6 and projects downwardly and rearwardly and acts to hold the plate to be exposed in a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 3 during exposure. As shown said carriages are actuated by means of toggle bars a and e of which the end of the toggle bar a pivotally connects with the can riage and the opposite end of the toggle bar 6 is pivotally connected with the frame member 0 near the post 0.

An electrical or any suitable motor F, is provided within the cabinet and drives as shown a vertical shaft f, on the upper end of which is a beveled pinion f which meshes with a beveled gear f secured on a horizon tal shaft f journaled on the cross bars 0 and which extends transversely of the machine adjacent the inner side of the front wall. Also secured on said shaft f 3 is a gear 7 which drives a pinion f secured on a Said gear and pinion as shown though not necessarily, are approximately in the ratio of 4 to 1 so that each revolution of the shaft f rotates the shaft f four times. On each end of said shaft f is provided a crank arm f 7 which are parallel to each other and each provided with a roller f ournaled at its end and on the outer side thereof as shown in Fig. 5, and positioned to engage simultaneously beneath the toggle bars as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 6 to actuate the carriages.

Means are provided for supporting the carriages with the View-plate thereon positioned for expos'. re in therear of the shadow-box, during one or more complete revolutions of the shaft f For this purpose, as shown, a bent lever G is pivoted at its middle on a boss or projection g on each of the uprights or posts 0, and in advance of the fulcrum and above and below the same are stops or pins g, g which respectively act to limit the movement of said lever on its pivot. The upper end of said lever extends into the path of the carriage and engages in a notch therein when the carriage is at its upper limit of movement. When so engaged said lever acts 'gear f and the other adjacent the face of a corresponding diskf on the end of the shaft f opposite from said gear and each of which are in position to be engaged by pins f set in said disk and gear and which act to force the lower ends of the levers inwardly relieving the carriages, just as the cranks f swing into engagement with the toggle bar 6 and are about to descend, lowering the carriages.

Within the shadow box and positioned within the angle afforded by the front angle bar uprights or posts 0 are vertical shafts H, and H one on each side of the shadow box and upon each of which is rigidly secured a shutter or a door h having half the width of the shadow box opening and acting to close the same except when the view plate is in position to be exposed. As shown afinger 71 is rigidly secured on each of said shafts slightly above the cross bar 0 and a torsion spring 72/ is engaged on the shaft and acts to hold the doors normally closed as shown in Fig. 10. Pivoted on the cross bars 0 is a bent lever, the upper end 7& of which engages in front of said finger h and the lower end of which is provided with a roller 7L5 and is bent upwardly and inwardly beneath a cam h secured on the shaft f 3 and which is cut away for approximately i its periphery when the gear and pinion used are in the ratio of 4 to 1, to permit the shaft H, H to rotate to closed position. The remaining portion of its periphery forces the arm h downwardly opening the doors or shutters as shown in Fig. 9. Said cam is secured upon the shaft f 3 in such relation with the pins f 11 and the throw of the cranksf as to permit the doors to close at the moment levers G are released from the carriages, and to open the doors when the next view is elevated in place.

Any suitable means of illumination can be used within the cabinet, as shown, however electric lights are used for this purpose and a plurality of ordinary reflecting incandescent electric lamps K are secured in the back of the cabinet opposite the shadow box in position to cast their light on the rear side of the view plate. Said lamps as shown are wired to any suitable source of current supply. As shown also they are connected with an automatic switch K which acts to make the circuit when the doors are open, and to break the circuit when the doors are closed. For this purpose a lever 7c is pivoted on-bar c and at its front end engages the lever arm if, at its extremity. The other end of said lever is engaged upon a switch lever k which is thus actuated to open and close the circuit with the movement of the lever arm h which also actuates the doors.

The operation is as follows: The device constructed as described may be used for amusement or instructive purposes or for displaying advertisements as preferred and a number of suitably arranged view plates may be supported upon the arm (1 When the switch K is closed the rotation of the shaft f causes the crank arm f to engage beneath the toggle arm 6 starting the carriage upwardly. The rearwardly projecting fingers e enga e beneath the laterally directed arms of the rst view plate lifting the plate thereon to the position shown in Fig. 3. When at maximum elevation of the carriages the upper ends of the levers G, fall into the notches in the carriages thus supporting the plate in view position. At this moment the cam disk forces the arm h downwardly throwing the doors or shutters it open and the same downward movement of the lever arm h opens the light circuit K illuminating the rear side of the view which being transparent or partly transparent makes the view plainly visible from in front. As the gear continues its rotation the pins f 11 on said gear and disk engage the lower ends of the lever Gr forcing the same inwardly, releasing the upper ends thereof from the carriages just as the crank arms f are in position to support the toggle bars actuating the carriage, and continuous rotation of the shaft f lowers the carriage pfeparatory to lifting the next succeeding ate. p The upper ends (Z of the inner guides are each provided at its extremities with a forwardly directed extension d pivoted thereon and the inner end of which normally is held in engagement beneath a pin or stop d on said arm by means of a spring (Z as shown in Fig. 8. Said extensions project into a position to be engaged beneath the laterally extended arms on the view plates'as the plates are moved upwardly to view position, and as the carriages descend said extensions cause the plate to slide rearwardly and downwardly to a position at the rear of those plates not yet exposed. As shown, to insure said view plates being held square upon said guide arms an inclined plate d is secured on the lower arm (1 of the inner guide and extends transversely of the cabinet upwardly and forwardly to near the bottom and rear edges of the shadow box, leaving but space to permit the plate to pass upwardly. This inclined plate (i is out of engagement with the view plate normally, but should one side of the view plate start down in advance of the other the edge of the view plate in descending contacts with plate (1 thereby squaring same to fall with precision at the rear of the remaining plates.

Obviously any suitable means for illuminating the view plate may be employed, and

the shutters may be actuated in any suitable manner. The view plate also may be elevated. and supported in view position by any suitable mechanism. I therefore do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art and as stated in the claims as many details of construction and application may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described the combination with a shadow box of a source of light at the rear thereof, a stack of view plates, automatically acting carriages adapted to successively elevate said view plates singly into view position between the shadow box and source of light, means bearing against the plates to prevent swinging thereof, means engaging the carriages to support each plate during a timed interval, means permitting each plate to pass in raising and adapted to remove the same from the carriages on the lowering thereof and shutters acting automatically to close the shadow box.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a shadow box, of an automatically closing shutter therefor, a source of light at the rear of the said shadow box, guides at the rear of the shadow box, each having curved ends, plates supported thereby, a carriage selectively elevating the plates to view position, means for directing the plates to the guides actuated by the upward movement of each plate to permit the plates to be fully elevated and automatically returning to normal position to remove the plates from the carriage at the beginning of its return movement and to direct the plate successively to the guides, toggle levers engaged to the carriage and frame and a crank arm actuating the toggle arms to elevate said carriage.

3. In a device of the class described a shadow box, a source of light at the rear thereof, shutters hinged to close said box, a plurality of concealed plates positioned at the rear of the shadow box, means for elevating said plates to view position, means adapted to hold sai'd plates from swinging when being elevated, inner and outer guides adapted to direct each exposed plate to the rear of the concealed plates, a pivoted projection on each inner guide extending across the path of the plates and automatically elevated as the plates pass to view position and means automatically returning the projection to normal position to release the plates from the carriage and direct the same into the guides prior to elevating another plate.

4. In a device of the class described the combination with reciprocating carriages, plates elevated thereby, guides positioned intermediate the carriages and out of alinement therewith, having their ends adapted to support said plates, mechanism carried by each carriage preventing each plate from swinging in view position, means adapted to contact the carriages at one endto support the same in elevated position for a predetermined interval, means throwing said supporting means out of engagement with the carriage and means removing each plate from the carriage on its return movement prior to reaching its normal position.

5. The combination with a cabinet of a shadow box therein and opening through the front, a supporting frame in the cabinet, a source of light, vertical ways at the rear of the shadow box, a carriage slidable on said ways, toggle bars engaging the carriage to the frame, a revoluble crank acting beneath said toggle bars to elevate and to lower the carriage, a series of vertically supported view plates adapted to be successively and automatically engaged by said carriage and lifted to view position at the rear of the shadow box, guides at the rear of the ways and meansfor automatically releasing each plate from the carriage-as the carriage returns to normal position and for directing said plates to the guides.

6. The combination with a cabinet of a shadow box therein, a source of light at the rear thereof, vertically disposed parallel view plates below and at the rear of the shadow box, a motor, a carriage automatically operated thereby acting to successively shift the front view plate to view position at the rear of the shadow box, a detent acting to support the carriage and plate during exposure, means automatically releasing the detent and parallel guides acting to return each exposed plate to the rear of those not yet exposed.

7. In a device of the class described a motor, a vertically movable carriage actuated thereby, means on said carriage for engaging a view plate, a detent acting to support the carriage when elevated, means releasing said detent operated by the elevating mechanism and a guide extending rearwardly from the plate support on the carriage when elevated.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with ways of carriages movable thereon, a stack of view plates supported adjacent said ways and at the rear of said carriages, means on said carriages for engaging a view plate selectively from the stack, means for actuating the carriages with the plates thereon, a detent acting to hold the carriages at the limit of their plate carrying movement, automatic means for releasing the detent and means for returning the exposed plates to the rear of those to be exposed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAY HARRISON HADFIELD. Witnesses:

0. WV. HILLS, W. W. WITHENBURY. 

